Kevin Rafferty, a journalist for 50 years, started writing about cricket and football for The Observer when at Oxford University. He joined the foreign staff of the Financial Times, was in charge of the FT’s Asian coverage, and opened the paper’s first Hong Kong office. He has lived and worked in Delhi, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, and Washington, and edited daily papers in 30 major cities during IMF and multilateral development bank meetings. He was professor in the Institute for Academic Initiatives at Osaka University.

Kevin Rafferty, a journalist for 50 years, started writing about cricket and football for The Observer when at Oxford University. He joined the foreign staff of the Financial Times, was in charge of the FT’s Asian coverage, and opened the paper’s first Hong Kong office. He has lived and worked in Delhi, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, and Washington, and edited daily papers in 30 major cities during IMF and multilateral development bank meetings. He was professor in the Institute for Academic Initiatives at Osaka University.

Japan has a new emperor, Naruhito, but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is still in charge. Abe is not only determined to amend Japan’s pacifist constitution but has also put his faith in US President Donald Trump

10 May 2019 - 12:00PM

Japan has a new emperor, Naruhito, but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is still in charge. Abe is not only determined to amend Japan’s pacifist constitution but has also put his faith in US President Donald Trump

The US president’s unpredictability is dangerous in an increasingly unstable world. Germany and Japan, running trade surpluses with the US, are not safe. And multilateralism is in crisis in Europe, though the Europeans should know better.

5 Apr 2019 - 1:33AM

The US president’s unpredictability is dangerous in an increasingly unstable world. Germany and Japan, running trade surpluses with the US, are not safe. And multilateralism is in crisis in Europe, though the Europeans should know better.

The Vatican treasurer’s conviction on child sex charges, until recently kept out of the news by a gag order, raises questions about Pope Francis’ leadership and the church’s resolve in tackling clergy sexual abuse.

28 Feb 2019 - 7:02AM

The Vatican treasurer’s conviction on child sex charges, until recently kept out of the news by a gag order, raises questions about Pope Francis’ leadership and the church’s resolve in tackling clergy sexual abuse.

In a world where infrastructure funding and leadership on tackling climate change are still an urgent need, the World Bank must rid itself of undue government interference and set the agenda for the greater global good.

5 Feb 2019 - 9:11AM

In a world where infrastructure funding and leadership on tackling climate change are still an urgent need, the World Bank must rid itself of undue government interference and set the agenda for the greater global good.

The capital blasphemy case against Asia Bibi is an emblem of a Pakistan that has broken its founding father’s promise of safety for people of all faiths. The country lost its way under the rule of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Zia ul-Haq.

27 Nov 2018 - 7:49PM

The capital blasphemy case against Asia Bibi is an emblem of a Pakistan that has broken its founding father’s promise of safety for people of all faiths. The country lost its way under the rule of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Zia ul-Haq.

The chief executive has failed Hong Kong by clamping down on talk of independence and self-determination. And if the latest ban on Victor Mallet was ordered by Beijing, it calls into question Hong Kong’s future.

17 Nov 2018 - 6:58PM

The chief executive has failed Hong Kong by clamping down on talk of independence and self-determination. And if the latest ban on Victor Mallet was ordered by Beijing, it calls into question Hong Kong’s future.

The gender gap remains wide in Japan, despite Abe’s pledge to uplift women. The country is controlled by conservative men who keep women out of medical schools, boardrooms, and the line of succession to the throne.

29 Sep 2018 - 2:36PM

The gender gap remains wide in Japan, despite Abe’s pledge to uplift women. The country is controlled by conservative men who keep women out of medical schools, boardrooms, and the line of succession to the throne.

The push for Britain’s departure from the European Union is, like much other anti-immigration sentiment around the world, driven by frustration with globalisation and memories of an idyllic time that never existed.

16 Aug 2018 - 7:54PM

The push for Britain’s departure from the European Union is, like much other anti-immigration sentiment around the world, driven by frustration with globalisation and memories of an idyllic time that never existed.

The US president’s summit with his Russian counterpart shows he’s willing to stake American democracy and global stability on his own deal making. As the global order unravels, the only question is whether other countries, namely China, can form a new one.

18 Jul 2018 - 9:14PM

The US president’s summit with his Russian counterpart shows he’s willing to stake American democracy and global stability on his own deal making. As the global order unravels, the only question is whether other countries, namely China, can form a new one.

Last week’s inter-Korean summit left the participants and observers with a sense of palpable joy at the prospects of a unified, peaceful peninsula. That feeling may fade when Trump arrives, determined to root out North Korea’s nuclear programme.

3 May 2018 - 6:44PM

Last week’s inter-Korean summit left the participants and observers with a sense of palpable joy at the prospects of a unified, peaceful peninsula. That feeling may fade when Trump arrives, determined to root out North Korea’s nuclear programme.

The Trump presidency is becoming a law unto itself. His attack on the integrity of America’s intelligence and law enforcement agencies, especially, raises worry that he may try to thwart the FBI investigation into Russia links

20 Jul 2018 - 8:47PM

The Trump presidency is becoming a law unto itself. His attack on the integrity of America’s intelligence and law enforcement agencies, especially, raises worry that he may try to thwart the FBI investigation into Russia links